2
RAMA 1 SUMMARY OF KEY MESSAGES- AIR-CONDITIONERS, 1 The Indian AC market size is Rs 2,790 crore comprising the household and commercial segments. The market is currently at a nascent stage and shows tremendous promise to grow. However, despite the reasonable growth in the last few years, the growth potential has not been entirely captured. The key bottleneck to growth is the low affordability of ACs. This is clearly evidenced in the Chinese market where substantially low price points (less than 50% of Indian retail prices) have driven penetration of ACs. In order to capture the growth potential, a substantial reduction in price is required. The primary cause for the high prices is the high incidence of indirect taxes, excise duties and import duties on the product category : accounting for close to 45% of the MRP. In particular, the abnormally high excise duty of 32% is a major deterrent to growth. With government support in duty and tax rationalization, the AC market can grow very rapidly over the next 5 years to as much as Rs. 14,000 crores by 2007. Reducing excise duties, indirect taxes and import duties is a win-win-win solution for the government, players and consumers. The specific short term proposals include: –A reduction in excise duty from 32% to 16% with 40% abatement beginning March 03 –Excise exemption in certain states such as Jammu, North East to be repealed as they destroy value for government, players and consumers and confer none of the intended benefits to the system –A reduction of import duty to 25% for finished goods and 15% for components beginning Mar-03

3
RAMA 2 SUMMARY OF KEY MESSAGES - COLD CHAIN, 2 Agriculture has been recognised by government as a focus area Cold chains (84.18) are a vital part of the agricultural chain There is a huge unrealised potential for – Preserving food and dairy products – Improving food distribution – Reducing cost of food to the common man Cold chain enjoy excise exemption. however, CENVAT credit on inputs is not available To maintain the spirit of exemption from incidence of taxes, replace exemption to cold chain by refund/ subsidy

7
RAMA 6 HOWEVER GROWTH IS LOWER THAN POTENTIAL AS AC IS VERY EXPENSIVE PURCHASE EVEN FOR HIGH INCOME CLASS (1/2) Price income multiple for ACs in China** Income class P/I multiplePenetration Per cent of all HH Bottom 40% Next 20% Next 10% Top 10% Sizable population in India finds ACs expensive Income class Penetration Price/ Monthly income multiple Untapped potential* Up to 12,000 12,000 – 16,000 > 16,000 @ price of Rs.21,000 # HH mn Per cent *After removing households below poverty line and in unelectrified areas **Based on Urban population ***Monthly household income Source: Francis Kanoi; IMRB; NCAER MHI***

8
RAMA 7 HOWEVER GROWTH IS LOWER THAN POTENTIAL AS AC IS VERY EXPENSIVE PURCHASE EVEN FOR HIGH INCOME CLASS (2/2) Source: Francis Kanoi, ORG-GFK Growth has been lively in household air conditioner market but less than potential Value Rs. Crores Volume 000 units 19951998200020012002 25%9%31%30% 19951998200020012002 18%17%26%31%

10
RAMA 9... AND CHINA EMERGED AS LARGEST MANUFACTURER, EXPORTER OF RACs ON BACK OF LARGEST DOMESTIC MARKET Source:Appliance Magazine Historical similarities with India: Large rural population, lack of basic infrastructure& low penetration (till 80s) 19911992199319941995199619971998199920002001 China India In the last decade the Chinese RAC market has grown from 6 to 23 times the Indian RAC market, despite Per Capita PPP differential of only 1.7 times Today China is the largest manufacturer & exporter in the world with a CAGR of 46% in last 11 years China leading due to –Economic reforms, localisation of ancillaries, dominance of domestic brands and entry of MNCs –Lower Prices leading to increased affordability; single VAT of 17%. –Export competitiveness due to large Scale operations for domestic market itself

12
RAMA 11 THE LOW ABATEMENT IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE HIGH POST MANUFACTURING COST NOR IS THE EXCISE DUTY ON PAR WITH OTHER WHITE GOODS Highest rate of ED and sales tax amongst white goods –ACs: 32% ED on 60% of MRP; sales tax of 21% –Refrigerator : 16% ED –Driven by perception of AC as a luxury – today, AC is a need especially in a tropical country like India –Further, amendment in the CST Act, almost all AC sales subject to LST which is higher than refrigerators Abatement of 40% not in line with high post manufacturing costs –Post manufacturing costs of AC is 52.7% of MRP leaving a gap of 12.7% (given abatement of 40%) on which no abatement Source: Industry Sources

14
RAMA 13 REDUCING EXCISE DUTY ON ACs FROM 32% TO 16% WILL BE TAX POSITIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT Current tax rev. (ST+ excise = 35%) Total loss due to decrease in tax rate at current volume Offset due to increase in demand at reduced price Net loss due to lowering excise duty to 16% Tax revenue potential (interme diate) Gain due to increased compliance Reduced costs due to scale leading to reduced prices and increased demand at new duty levels Total revenue potential Current tax revenue indexed to 100Price elasticity for ACs X Price (Rs) Volume (000 unit) Price elasticity of ~3, meaning a 30% drop in price will result in 100% increase in volumes Source: McKinsey Analysis & Interview of Players

16
RAMA 15 THE FINAL OUTCOME WILL BE A WIN-WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR PLAYERS, GOVERNMENT AND CONSUMERS Domestic AC market can be a huge market by 2007 Size of domestic market Rs 6280 crore and 4.3 million units with further growth possible Increased standard of living for consumer – AC will become a need and productivity enhancer Growth in exports will earn foreign exchange for country Scale in domestic market will drive competitiveness in exports (e.g., Chinese exports of 5.9 million units driven of domestic volume of 14 million units) Household AC exports can be Rs 700 crore

17
RAMA 16 ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT IMPLEMENTING INITIATIVES WILL CONTINUE TO HAMPER INDUSTRY PROFITS AND A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE LOST Price (Index 1998 to 100) Total variable cost (Indexed 1998 to 100) Further price reduction very difficult at current costs Current costs difficult to reduce at current volumes Industry deadlock Price cost squeeze adversely affects players profitability Source:Analysis

18
RAMA 17 PROPOSALS TO GOVERNMENT - EXCISE DUTY, 1 1 Excise duty rates and exemptions Excise duty rates - Air-conditioners (84.15) Excise duty and abatement to be brought on par with white goods (16% excise duty and 40% abatement) effective March 2003 Excise duty exemption Excise duty exemption to SSI to be withdrawn as it has outlived its purpose & large gap between the duty payable and the input duty is a potential threat for leakage in revenue Locational exemptions for manufacturing in North-East and Jammu for air- conditioners to be repealed as this has led to creation of finishing, packing & invoicing hubs, adding to fragmentation of manufacturing and inability to capture scale economics – This exemption destroys value for government, players and consumers and confer none of the intended benefits to the system – The exemption is financially attractive due to large gap between duty payable at 32% and all inputs at 16% with no requirement of value addition or minimum employment. In fact air- conditioner is the exception and not covered in the negative list If existing notification cant be repealed, amend the notification by adding – condition for value addition – criteria for investment/employment

19
RAMA 18 PROPOSALS TO GOVERNMENT - EXCISE DUTY, 2 2 Excise exemption for Cold Chain (84.18) Cold chain enjoys excise exemption under General Exemption No 66 in List 44 However, CENVAT credit on inputs is not available To maintain the spirit of exemption from incidence of taxes – cold chain may be covered under payment of excise duty at 16% – grant refund of Terminal Excise Duty (TED) to manufacturer or ; – grant additional subsidy, equivalent to excise duty, to user